>> they did not have the eastern part of jerusalem. >> the old city. >> the old city was part of east jerusalem. that belonged to jordan. they annexed it illegally. it was recognized only by two states, by britain and pakistan. >> how long did that israeli state stay together until it was -- in 1956, what was that war about? >> it was about on the israeli side, the fear that nasser had become a proxy of the soviet union, had acquired mass amounts of soviet arms. >> he was the head of egypt. >> he was the head of egypt. he had been sending palestinian guerrillas to attack deep within israel. it was only a matter of time before nasser used this massive soviet weaponry in an offensive war of destruction. israel sought to launch a preemptive strike. it found an opportunity in the suez crisis. we call it nationalize the suez canal. tried to negotiate through american mediation a solution to the suez crisis. when no solution could be found, britain and france elected to retake the canal by force of arms and enlisted israel's help in that effort. israel sought an alliance of convenience betw